Ping Pong Ball on a raft: "US Fortifies Hawaii"

The ping pong ball on a raft which has spent a good deal more time in Pearl Harbor over the last several years than out at sea guarding us from nefarious missiledoers has gone back to service. I grabbed this pic from our lanai at 7:56:34 AM two days ago:

 

Today, the Wall Street Journal tells us why it is cruising for missiles:

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. is moving ground-to-air missile defenses to Hawaii as tensions escalate between Washington and Pyongyang over North Korea's recent moves to restart its nuclear-weapon program and resume test-firing long-range missiles.

Restart? It stopped?

Some senior U.S. officials expect a North Korean test by midsummer, even though most don't believe the missile would be capable of crossing the Pacific and reaching Hawaii.

Well, I hope most officials are correct. For once.

Mr. Gates told reporters that the U.S. is positioning a sophisticated floating radar array in the ocean around Hawaii to track an incoming missile.

AKA our Ping-Pong Ball.

The U.S. is also deploying missile-defense weapons to Hawaii that would theoretically be capable of shooting down a North Korean missile, should such an order be given, he said.

But we'd rather not, as missing it would be embarrassing, and encourage the Japanese et al to consider defending themselves, instead of relying on us. Maybe it's time we let them grow up.